Fit For An Autopsy - The Nothing That Is (Album Review)
Fit For An Autopsy - The Nothing That Is
Released: October 25, 2024
Line Up
Joe Badolato // Vocalist
Will Putney // Guitars
Patrick Sheridan // Guitars
Tim Howley // Guitars
Peter Spinazola // Bass
Josean Orta // Drums
Online
Can we declare October 25 Will Putney Day? Not only has his new band Better Lovers dropped a stunner debut LP, we’ve also got a new album from his deathcore roots - the almighty Fit For An Autopsy. After seven albums, they steadily progressed with some sonic experimentation along the way. They’ve got a dedicated fan base, have generally received positive reviews and had previous album Oh What the Future Holds land in the US Charts Top 25. Putney’s production hand might be all over the scene, but what would it take for Fit For An Autopsy to hit another level?
The Nothing That Is could very well be that album. It’s still brutal, with tracks like ‘Spoils of the Horde’ and ‘Weaker Wolves’ featuring their trademark breakdowns and sharp guitar leads. These two combine elements of djent and hardcore to meet the needs of fans who want pit violence.
However, the album builds on the atmospheric elements of their last album, offering a rich listening experience, particularly through headphones. Opener ‘Hostage’ drips with despair through both growls and clean vocals. The hook is massive and will no doubt inspire thousands to sing along. There’s a warmth to the layered sound and vocals, pushing audience expectations higher for the rest of the album. The likes of ‘Red Horizon’ step up to this expectation with a deep resonance in Joe Badolato’s voice.
Fit For An Autopsy aren’t just pushing the tone in terms of warmth, but also dabble in melodic death metal on ‘Savior of None - Ashes of All’ with dizzying results. The Putney, Patrick Sheridan, Tim Howley guitar attack really gets loose on this and ‘Lust For the Severed Head’. It’s thrashy and fun in a way that deathcore often is not, feeling like guitarists jamming and trying to out riff each other. It’s glorious. The lyrics remain deadly serious and despite the experimentation, it still sounds solidly like FFAA.
There are two songs that really kick the whole experience up a gear. ‘Lurch’ drops into a doom groove and deliberate pace that makes it an album stand out. When the drop comes it is ferocious without losing the dark mood. There’s tempo changes that the rhythm section of Peter Spinazola and Josean Orta keep tight and the song keeps building, like a pyre flaming higher into the sky. The other is the final track, ‘The Silver Sun’. It’s a six minute odyssey that takes their prog leanings and runs with it. Lyrically it depicts “a world without the light”, a depressing dystopian future that feels increasingly likely. It brings home the album’s overall themes of horrific human action (and inaction) and what it is doing to our world. The album cover also conveys this sense of gloom and it is the combination of words, music and artwork that leaves a lasting impression that this is not just another deathcore album.
Fit For An Autopsy have found an edge and sharpened their collective focus. The Nothing That Is rewards repeat listens that give fans the chance to invest in the different moods and musical flourishes. As a band, they have pushed themselves to new heights and the view is both savage and darkly beautiful.
Fit For An Autopsy - The Nothing That Is Tracklisting
- Hostage
- Spoils Of The Horde
- Savior Of None - Ashes Of All
- Weaker Wolves
- Red Horizon
- The Nothing That Is
- Lurch
- Lower Purpose
- Lust For The Severed Head
- The Silver Sun
Rating: 10 / 10
The Nothing That Is is out now on Human Warfare / Nuclear Blast Records. Get it here.
Review by KJ Draven (Twitter X and Instagram).
